Blog Category: Farmer Profiles

B.C. Business Mentorship Network – Flora and Fungi Farm

Posted by Melanie Buffel on October 25, 2021

Young Agrarians is celebrating the eighth year of the Business Mentorship Network (BMN) program. The BMN offers business mentorships  to a diverse array of new and young farmers across BC. Through one-on-one mentorship and peer networks, young farmers develop the skills necessary to operate ecologically sustainable and financially viable farm businesses. The 2021 Mentee Cohort are wrapping up their growing season and reflecting back on the lessons of the year.  We are thrilled to profile them and celebrate their efforts as we recruit a new cohort of farmers for our BMN 2022 program. For more information and to apply please see … Continue reading B.C. Business Mentorship Network – Flora and Fungi Farm →

Brewery Waste, Mushrooms, and Animal Feed: A Zero-Waste Solution

Posted by Michelle Lam on October 12, 2021

Turning beer waste into mushrooms, and mushroom waste into feed — that’s what Alex Villeneuve is doing with Ceres Solutions, a farm located in the Treaty 7 region (Olds, AB).  Alex Villeneuve was completing a Chef’s Apprenticeship at NAIT when he decided to take the Brewmaster’s Program at Old’s College. After witnessing the amount of waste that comes from the brewing process while in the program, he knew there had to be a better way. This is when he began to experiment with cultivating mushrooms. His set-up was simple; Ziploc bags, bale twine, plastic buckets, and duct tape were used … Continue reading Brewery Waste, Mushrooms, and Animal Feed: A Zero-Waste Solution →

A Day in the Life of an Apprentice: Chelsea Klinke – Dirt Boys Urban Farm

Posted by Michelle Lam on October 08, 2021 1 Comment

“I don’t grow plants, I help plants grow” — Michael Gavin of Dirt Boys Urban Farm, as quoted by Chelsea Klinke, Young Agrarians (YA) Apprentice.  Chelsea Klinke moved to Calgary from the United States in 2019 to start her master’s program in Anthropology, quickly bypassing that into the Ph.D. program. She describes her focus in “ecofeminism and the gendered implications of different subsistence strategies, primarily large scale agriculture”. This includes the “divisions of labour and power, inequalities and decision making within and among households, and at different levels and value chains along the way, from… farm to fork,” says Chelsea. … Continue reading A Day in the Life of an Apprentice: Chelsea Klinke – Dirt Boys Urban Farm →

A Day in the Life of an Apprentice: Leia Zulyniak – Lazy T and Lady’s Hat Farms

Posted by Michelle Lam on September 28, 2021

Leia Zulyniak is a Chicken Boss by day and a florist-in-training by night. She’s in a unique position as Young Agrarians Farm Apprentice, where she spends half her day with mentors Jenna and Brett at Lazy T Farm, and the latter half with Nikki at Lady’s Hat Farm. The two closely-knit farms work collaboratively on a community, food-centred initiative called the Prairie Farm Project. Lazy T Farm is a holistically managed farm with a main focus on grass-fed beef, pastured poultry and free-range eggs. Lady’s Hat Farm, just 15-minutes down the road, centres around florals and grass-fed, grass-finished lambs. The … Continue reading A Day in the Life of an Apprentice: Leia Zulyniak – Lazy T and Lady’s Hat Farms →

A Day in the Life of an Apprentice: Annalise Beaulieu – Steel Pony Farm

Posted by Michelle Lam on September 06, 2021

Steel Pony Farm is a vegetable farm in Red Deer, AB that lives up to it’s values of growing fresh, chemical-free food for the local community in a sustainable manner. It’s led by Mike Kozlowski who is praised by his peers for prioritizing mindfulness and mutual understanding amongst the farm team. There are currently two Young Agrarians (YA) Farm Apprentices at Steel Pony Farm, one of which is Annalise Beaulieu, who proudly shares her passion for increasing food security.  Apprentices Landon (left) and Annalise (right) at Steel Pony Farm. Annalise previously worked in healthcare, helping out in dental offices, but … Continue reading A Day in the Life of an Apprentice: Annalise Beaulieu – Steel Pony Farm →

SEPT 25, 2021: SPILLIMACHEEN, BC – Land Social at Flyway Farm & Forest

Posted by Hailey Troock on September 01, 2021 2 Comments

You’re invited to a socially-distanced outdoor Land Social at Flyway Farm & Forest in Spillimacheen, B.C., in the heart of the picturesque Columbia Valley! If you’re curious about what land matching and sharing is all about – or just want to check out what your local farmers are up to – join us for the event.  Flyway Farm & Forest has a land opportunity listed with the B.C. Land Matching Program for an experienced farmer/farmers interested in permaculture practices, farm-to-table experiences, added value products, mixed production including small livestock, farm gate sales and CSAs. The owners also own and operate … Continue reading SEPT 25, 2021: SPILLIMACHEEN, BC – Land Social at Flyway Farm & Forest →

SEPT 12, 2021: OYAMA, BC – Farm Tour at 4 Elements Farm

Posted by Michalina Hunter on August 31, 2021

You’re invited to a farm tour at 4 Elements Farm in Oyama, BC! Sarah and Michael have been farming for 14 years. They started with a 1/2 acre garden, then expanded onto a neighbouring property with an additional 3 acres of leased land. In 2020 they purchased a new property and are currently farming 3 acres of mixed vegetables and developing a small fruit and nut orchard. Don’t miss the chance to ask these experienced organic farmers all your questions! DATE: Sunday, September 12, 2021 • 4-7pm LOCATION: Syilx (Okanagan) Territory. 15530 Sawmill Rd, Lake Country, BC V4V 2E2 REGISTER: … Continue reading SEPT 12, 2021: OYAMA, BC – Farm Tour at 4 Elements Farm →

SEPT 19, 2021: TSAWWASSEN, BC – Land Social at Salt & Harrow Farm

Posted by Michalina Hunter on August 20, 2021

You’re invited to a socially-distanced outdoor Land Social at Salt & Harrow Farm in Tsawwassen, B.C.! If you’re curious about what land matching and sharing is all about – or just want to check out what your local farmers are up to – join us for the event.  Be inspired and learn about the incredible farming that can be done on a community farm! Salt & Harrow Farm is a certified organic vegetable farm with ten acres devoted to growing over 50 varieties of vegetables, legumes, fruits, and herbs. In partnership with Young Agrarians, training and mentoring for the next … Continue reading SEPT 19, 2021: TSAWWASSEN, BC – Land Social at Salt & Harrow Farm →

Help us make a video!

Posted by Alex on August 20, 2021

Calling all awesome farmers — yup, that’s you! Young Agrarians is making a series of short videos about new farmers and we need your help. We’re crowd sourcing the video footage for these videos and we want as many new farmers as possible to talk about farming and the future of food systems. These videos will be used to promote farming as a career, explain the benefits and challenges of ecological agriculture to policy makers and funders, and celebrate our amazing farmer network! To participate, just record a video of yourself on the farm answering any or all of these … Continue reading Help us make a video! →

SEPT 11, 2021: GREENWOOD, BC – Land Social at Jewel Creek Farm

Posted by Hailey Troock on August 19, 2021

You’re invited to a socially-distanced outdoor Land Social at Jewel Creek Farm just outside of Greenwood, B.C. – Boundary country! If you’re curious about what land matching and sharing is all about – or just want to check out what your local farmers are up to – join us for the event.  Jewel Creek Farm is run by Oliver Glaser in the hills outside Greenwood between Grand Forks and Rock Creek, just over two hours drive from Kelowna, and minutes from Jewel Lake Provincial Park. Be inspired and learn about the farming, permaculture, brewing and eco-tourism hospitality taking place at … Continue reading SEPT 11, 2021: GREENWOOD, BC – Land Social at Jewel Creek Farm →